By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

A seat was hardly available at East Carbon City Hall on Tuesday, April 15, as the building was bursting at the seams for a special city council meeting. The special need for this gathering was a celebration of the East Carbon Ambulance service, a group that has served the community for over 50 years.

East Carbon EMS Director Barbara Robinett laid out the history of the service: “The ambulance was started in 1969 with four people. Our first ambulance back then was an old purse. It was white, and we called it the Ghostbuster. It had a seat to the side of the gurney. If you had to do CPR, you had to kneel on the seat; you couldn’t stand up.”

As time passed, the service grew and gained more certification. Now, the group is classified as an advanced life support ambulance, able to give IVs, manage airways, and administer medication.

Kicking off the festivities, Robinett welcomed the newest EMTs to the service with Chelsey Poglajen, Cindy Garcia, Jacqueline Hill and Bill Tice joining the fray.

Every service member was also honored at this ceremony, with volunteers receiving recognition for as little as one year of service, up to 25. Jenn Maestas, ECEMS Co-Director, took the mic to honor Robinett. She explained how, without Robinett, the service would not run effectively. “She isn’t just our boss. She’s a genuine leader, mentor, and friend. More than that, she’s family. We have all spent time sitting in the same spot-on Barb’s couch, talking to her for hours.”

Maestas relayed a story about the city’s budget shortfall, which prevented the payment of $1000 in ambulance wages. Robinett, knowing that many volunteers relied on this money, paid these missing wages out of pocket.

The gathering also served another purpose: to reunite EMTs with the ‘East Carbon Miracle Baby’. On Dec. 17, Robinett, Mary North, and Jack Manchester were called to a scene where a 25-year-old female was in active labor and crowning. Working quickly, the group was able to deliver a healthy baby girl. Christina Nelson, the mother who gave birth, reunited the trio with baby Tyler.

“Unfortunately, in this line of work, we frequently witness death. And it is a very rare and special privilege to help bring life into this world,” said Maestas.

A true necessity in East Carbon, ECEMS proudly continues to serve its community with lifesaving services.